Refund for cancelled bookings at community centres in fortnight

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 12

Residents, who have been waiting to get refund for their cancelled bookings at community centres for April and May due to the Covid-19 restrictions, will get their money in the next 15 days.

As many as 493 applicants gave their bank account details to the Municipal Corporation to get the refund. A sum of around Rs80 lakh will be returned to the people.

“The payment is ready. We are only waiting for the audit. The amount will be released in the next 15 days. It will be directly transferred to the bank accounts of the applicants. A sum of around Rs66 lakh is the licence fee, while Rs10 lakh is the security fee, which will be returned," said a senior officer, privy to the development. Officials said it took some time due to formalities. After the decision of the MC General House, its resolution was approved on June 26. Later, it will go for audit following which the payment will be released. The civic body had allowed bookings for community centres from June 4. There are 42 community centres in the city. Barring seven, all were thrown open for booking. The community centres in Sector 23-D, 47-B, 49, Sarangpur, Dhanas and two in Maloya are reserved as quarantine/isolation facilities.

The centres are allowed to be booked only for marriage and bhog ceremonies. A maximum of 50 persons can participate in a marriage function, while 20 persons will be allowed in bhog ceremony. The participants are supposed to wear a face mask and follow social distancing norms. A community centre can be booked at a cost ranging between Rs29,000 and Rs50,000 depending upon the category and the area.